Hydraulic press.



W. H. COTTON & H. J. FLOOD.

HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLIOATION FILED we. 25, 1908.

1,003,987, Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

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W. H. COTTON & H. J. FLOOD.

HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLICATION IILBD AUG. 25, 1908. 1,003,987. Patented Sept. 26, 1911 16SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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W. H. COTTDN & H. J. FLOOD.

HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1008.

1,003,987. 1 Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

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HYDRAULIC PRESS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1908.

1,003,987. Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

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W. H. COTTON & H. J. FLOOD.

HYDRAULIC PRESS.

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HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLICATION rrnnn we. 25, 1909.

1 003 9 1 Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

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W. H. COTTON & H. J. FLOOD.

HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLIUATION IILED AUG. 25, 1908.

1,003,987. Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

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W. H. COTTON & H. J. FLOOD. HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1908. 1,003,987. I Pa ented Sept. 26, 1911.

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W. H. COTTON & H. J. FLOOD.

HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED 11116.26, 1908.

1,003,987. Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

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W. H. COTTON &. H. J. FLOOD. HYDRAULIC PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1903. 1,003,987. Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

Unirnn sTArEs PATENT orrrcn.

WALTER H. COTTON AND HARRY J'. FLOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS TOCHISHOLM, BOYD & WHITE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

To all whom it concern;

. Be it known that we, WALTER H. COTTON and HARRY J. Fnooo, citizens ofthe United States, residing in the cit of Chicago, county of Cook, Stateof'Il inois, have mvented certain new and useful Improvements inHydraulic Presses, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to machines operated by fluid pressure, and Whilethe principles of the invention are applicable to, a

wlde variety'of uses, they are particularly applicable to machines formolding material into form. To impart-the invention we have chosen toillustrate it as embodied .in

a machine for making ressed brick.

To facilitate description it may be stated briefly that the machineillustrated consists in general of a frame having a set of molds in eachof which an upper and a lower plunger is vertically movable. Theseplungers are moved toward each other by means of an upper and a lowerram, respectively. They are retracted by means of auxiliary retractingpistons operating in valveless cylinders which communicate with anaircontaining closed tank. When the rams ad- Vance they causecompression of the air in said tank, and as soon as said rams aresufficiently relieved of ressure, the compressed a1r 1n sald tanoperating upon said retracting pistons causes the return of the rams toinitial position. The machine operates in connection with anaccumulator, a low pressure pump for supplying operating liquid to theram cylinders, either direct or through the accumulator, and a highpressure pump for intensifying the pressure of the rams for a limitederiod during the pressing action. In the esign shown, the pumps aremounted within the pump box or reservoir which supplies the operating I.liquid and to which said liquid is returne and plungers up, the lowerram. and plungers down, the molds filled and the charger back inretracted position, the parts move,

HYDRAULIC rREss,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 26, 1911. Applicationfiled August 25, 1908. ,Serial No. 450,539.

of plungers then rise in unison, the rise be- .ing due to the fact thatthelower ram has a greater area than the upper one. As the upperplungers are about .to leave the mold, a valve is tripped and thehigh'pressure pump is rendered ineffective, the remainder of the rise ofthe lower plunger occurring under accumulator pressure. A high pressurepump determines the rate of upward movement as the plungers are risingin unison. About the time the upper plungers,

are ready to leave the "mold the upper mam cylinder is automaticallyopened to exhaust, and the upper ram and plungers rise rapidly under theinfluence of the upper retracting piston. The lower plungers come flushwith the top of the mold, and the charger, which has in the meantimestarted forward, pushes the finished brick onto the. delivery apron.While the charger is thus in forward position the lower plungerssuddenly drop under the influence of the lower retracting piston thuscausing the clay in said charger (which is open top and bottom andslides on the flat table of the machine) to drop into and fill the mold.The charger then returns to normal retracted position and all is readyfor another descent of the upper plungers, and a repetition of thecycle.

Bearing the above outline in mind, the general object of the inventionis to produce simple, convenient and efficient means for operating. theplungers and charger automatically and in proper relation.

As oontributary to the general object it is an object of the invention:First, to provide means for rapidly retracting the rams. Second, toprovide means for limiting the mutual approach of the rams no matterhowgreat the pressure under which they are acting. Third, to provide meansfor moving the substance in the mold while under maximum pressure.Fourth, to provide means for regulating the relative intensities ofpressure upon the upper and lower rams.

.Fifth, toprovide means whereby one ram will be started upon its travelonlywhen the pressure' upon the other ram has reached rlod of theircycles 0 operation. Ninth, to

provide means for automatically rendering thev pumps temporarilyineffective. Tenth,

to provide safety devices toprevent excessive pressures. Eleventh, toprovide certain details of construction wherebythe parts will beoperated rapidly, certainly and efiiciently.

Referring to the drawings which show the machine selected to illustratethe invention:

- Figure 1 is a front-elevation showing certain parts in cross section.vFig. 2 is a sectional.

elevation, substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; the pumping mechanismand valve casing being shownin full lines. Fig. 3 is a plan I section,substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear view showing particularly the variousvalve'gears, theaccumulator being removed to better reveal the parts/ Fig.

5 is a sectional plan view of the valve casin on line 5'5 of Fig. 6.'Fig. '6 is a sectiona elevation on line 66 of 5. Fig. 7 is a sectionalelevation online. -,7 of Fig.. 5.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation, parftl in section, illustrating the lowermain cylinder valve gear. Fi 9 is a detail 'plan view on line 9-9 of;F-1g. 8.; Fig. 10 isa rear elevation, partlyin section illustrating theupper main cylinder valve gear. Fig. 11 is a' detail of the upper maincylinder valve gear on line 1111 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a sectionalelevation of the chokin valve on line 12-12 of Fig. 13. Fig. 131s anexterior view of the choking valve. Fi 14 shows a modification in theform 0 piston used in the choking'valve. Fig.15 is a plan viewof partsof the pumping mechanism. Fig. 16.is

an elevation showing partsof the pumping mechanism in section. Thesection is taken at various points indicated by the lines 16-46, 16 l6,and 16"--,-16 of Fi 18. Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation online 1 *.17of Figs. 15 and 23. Fig. 18 is a sectional elevation on line 18-'18 ofFig. 16. Fig. 19

is a sectional elevation on line 1919 of Fig.

16. Fig. 20 is a bottom view :of the low pressure pum valve-casing. Fig.21- is an elevation of t e piping shown in the-lower left corner of Fig.15. Fig. 22 is a plan seetion through the lower cylinder on line 2222 ofFig. 2. Fig. 23 is a sectional plan of the high pressure pump and bypassshown in Fig. 15. Fig. 24 1s a detail of the mechanism which operatesthe valves which control the charger. Fig. 25 is a perspective view ofthe lower main cylinder valve shaft. Fig. 26 is a perspective view ofthe charger valve shaft. Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the upper mamcylinder valve shaft and Fig. 28 is a diagram showing the theory ofoperation of the machine.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

The main oylz'nders.-ln the form of press illustrated, the upper maincylinder 10 and lower m ain cylinder 11 are rigidly connected togetherby means of the tension bars 12 and 13 as best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and4. The machine rests upon a base 15- which is mounted upon a suitablefoundation 16.

The molds and mold tabZalhe molds, which in the present case are four innumber, are formed within a mold box interposed between the two maincylinders 10 and 11. Said moldbox rests upon supports 18 and 19 whichare vertically a-pertured to fit the tension rods 12 a'nd 13 and areheld in place by means of bolts 20. This. particular form of mold'boxforms, no part of this invention but to facilitate a clear understandingof. the entire machine,- it may be briefly described asfollo-ws,'reference being had especially to Figs. 1, 2-and 3: Said ,moldbox consists of front and rear members '21 and the mold box and saidapron and mold box forms a level table upon which the charger 32reciprocates.

The happen-11 hopper 35 is so located as to lie above the compartmentsof the charger when the latter is in retracted position as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. In the preferred form the hopper rests by gravity uponthe top .of the charger and is prevented from lateral movement by meansof lugs 37 which 1 are formed on the side of the charger and are guidedby stationary vertical guides 36. With this construction horizontal playof, the hopper is prevented but said hopper is free tomove in a vertical2 direction. Prepared clay is supplied to the hopper in any suitablemanner usually through spouts leading from the storage bin (not shown).

The 0ha1'ger.The charger 32 above mentioned is of usual construct-ion,having a plurality of compartments 33, one for each of the molds and a"flat surface 34, rearward of said compartments. Said flat surface formsa support for the hopper and also constitutes" a shut off or bottom tothe hopper when the charger is forward. Said charger is guidedlaterally, by guides-38 and 39, formed on rear apron" 31. as best shownin Figs. 3 and 4. It is reciprocated over the mold box by means of thecylinder 40 bolted to the apron 31.". Said cylinder is of thedoubleacting type having the usual piston- '42'and piston rod 43connected in the present instance to. a lug 44 on the charger by arecessed collar 45 secured to said piston rod 43 as best shown in Fig.2. 'Said cylinder is provided with the usual stufling box 46 and head47. Liquid is conyeyed to and discharged from each end of the cylinder40 through a pair of pipes 48 and 49 which communicate with the valvechambers 50 and 51 v of the box or valve casing 52. Said casing containsan induction valve 53 and a discharge valve for one end of the cylinder,and an induction valve 54 and discharge valve 56 for the other end ofthe cylinder. The discharge valves 55 and 56 are located within theexhaust chamber 57 while the induction valves 53 and 54 are locatedwithin the supply chamber 58 of the valve casing 52 as best shown inFigs. 5, 6 and 7. The operating liquid is supplied to the chamber 58 Iof said casing through the pipe 147 and is discharged from the exhaustchamber 57 through the pipe 301. These cylinder-controlling valves 53,54, 55 and 56 are controlled by parts moving in unison with the 5 gers63 and 64 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The 1 lower ram is of greaterdiameter than the upper one in order that it may have greater force andbe able to raise the -clay.'and upper plungers in the mold at a timewhen the clay is under pressure from said upper plungers. The lowerplungers 64 never leave the molds, and serve'to guide the lower ram andcrosshead. The upper crosshead is guided by boxes 65 adapted to slideupon the upright tension bars 12 and 13.

The retracting cylindera-The raising of the upper ram and lowering ofthe lower ram to normal position is effected through auxiliary orretracting cylinders. Their purpose is to raise the upper crosshead 61and lower the lower crossh'ead 62 after the plungers attached to saidcrossheads have completed the pressing action. The retracting cylinder66 is located at the top of cylinder 10 and has a piston 68 which'carries a crosshead 70 adjustably connected to the upper crosshead 61by tension rods 72. In a similar manner the retracting cylinder 67is-located at the bottom of cylinder 11 and has a piston 69 whichcarries a crosshead 71 adjustably connected to the lower crosshead 62 bymeans of tension rods 73. These retracting cylinders are connected bypiping 74 with an auxiliary tank 75 into which fluid is forced throu h apipe 75 (shown at the left of Fig. 4? cumulator 76. Pipe 7 5 is providedwith a i check valve 77 as a result of which the minimum pressure intank 75 is equal to the .maximum pressure in the accumulator 76. In caseof leakage from tank 75 said check valve permits the passage of liquidto compensate for loss.

The upper portion of tank 75 forms an air cushion for the liquid in theretracting cylinders 66 and 67. When the rams 59 and I 60 move in-thepositive direction toward each other they being larger than theretracting pistons cause the latter to move inward in the retractingcylinders thus forcing the operatin liquid into tank 75 against thepressure of the air cushion therein. When the pressure on the rams isreleased the compressed. air confined in tank 75 forces liquid from saidtank back into the retracting cylinders thus causing the retractingpistons to move outward and return the rams to normal position. Theretracting cylinders are therefore valveless and require novalve-operating gear.

In the preferred design here shown the parts are so proportioned thatthe rams are prevented from actually leaving their cylinders by thecontact of the inner ends of the retractin pistons with the inner endsof their cylinders but special means are provided/for regulating thedepth of mold, and also the thickness of the finished brick as will behereinafter described.

The adjustment of the lower ram so that the top of the plungers 64 willcome to a point just flush with the top of the mold box is effectedthrough the medium of a pair of nuts 78 and 79, on each of the tenl sionrods 73.

Another advantage in employing a separate auxiliary tank forretractingthe upper ram is that it affords means independ ent of the rest of thesystem for holding the upper ram and plungers up in raised positionwithout blocking or other extraneous means in case it becomes necessaryto repair any other part of the machine.

The mechanism for regulating depth ofrespect to the machine frame bymeans ofa pair of rods 81 which are bolted to said frameas best shownin-Figs. 1 and 2. This beam is threaded to receive the adjusting molds-Abeam is held stationary with from the ac- &

screw 82 whlch is arranged vertically and located in position to act asastop to limit the downward movement of the crosshead plishing thisconsist of a sprocket 86 secured to said screw and operated by a chain84 from a-sprocket 85. Sprocket 85 is rigidly secured to a controllingshaft 83 which is supportedin suitable stationary bearings 87 and 88 andis operated by a hand wheel 89 located in a position convenient ofaccess by the operator. By rotating hand wheel 89 the depth to which thelower plunger 64 will drop may be increased or decreased with the resultthat a greater or less quantity of clay will -'be deposited.

The pumping meeham'sm.'lhe pumping mechanism is best shown in Figs. 15to 20 inclusive and Figs. 23 and 26 and includes low and high pressure.pumps designated in general in Fig. 16 by 90 and 91 respectively. Thesepumps are inclosed in a dust proof, metallic box 92 provided. with cover93 hinged at 94 as best shown in Fig. 18; The pumps are operated from acommon crank shaft 95 (see Fig. 16) journaled in bearings 96 bolted tothe end walls of box 92 and Y driven through the agency of gears 97 and98 (Figs. 18 and 19) froma high speed shaft 99, rotatably mounted instationary bearings 100 and 101 (as best shown in Fig.

Said shaft is driven by pulley 102 operated from any suitable source ofpower.

The low pressure pump.The function of the low pressure pump 90illustrated in detail in Figs. 15, 1'6, 19 and 20 is to furnish thenecessary volume of operating fluid to the accumulator 76 for operatingthe rams 59 and and charger piston 42. The design of this pump is nonessential but in the form illpstrated consists of a double actingcylinder 103, a piston 104 and piston rod 105, the latter being operatedfrom the crank shaft 95 by the crosshead and slide movement 106.

The cylinder 103 is provided with ports 107 and 108 leading to the valvechambers 109 and 110 in which are located the suction valves 111 and 112and discharge valves 113 and 114. The suction and discharge valves The.aecumulator.The accumulator 76.

previously mentioned, is a closed tank and contains both air and liquid.The air serves as a cushion to force the, operating liquid into thecylinders which operate the rams and charger. Although the accumulatoris preferably mounted upon the machine frame, both it and the pumps andalso the auxiliary tank may be located at a distance if desired. Thefunction of the accumulator is to accumulate the operating liquid as itcomes from the low pressure pump, and at the proper time, deliver theoperating liquidto the ram cylinders with a rush, under the action ofthe confined air in the accumu the quantity of air in the accumulatorthe low pressure pump may be converted into an air pump by turning thevalve 119'to such position (see Figs. 19 and 20) as to close the port115, thereby shutting off the liquid supply and opening and throwing thepump into communication with the tube 120 whose upper extremity is abovethe level of liquid in the proper box 92 and therefore will supply airto the. pump instead of liquid. The air passes from the tube through thevalve member 121 which is held upon its seat 122 by a helicalcompression spring 123. Said tube is mounted'in stationary bearings 124in such manner as to be rotatable about its vertical axis and isprovided with a handle 125 at the top for rotating it and the valve 121.

The low pressure pump relief mecham'sm.The pressure in the accumulatoris prevented from passing beyond the desired intensity by certain reliefmechanism best shown in the lower right corner of Fig. 16. Thiscomprises a small piston 126 arranged to be acted upon by the pressurein the low pressure pump 90. It is normally held in place by acompression spring 127. Said piston is connected to a lever 128 thelower end of which'is adaptedto operate a sliding stop-129 adapted toslip under the stems of the suction valves 111 and 112 and thus preventthem from seating. It, will be remembered that during the normal actionof the pump these valves pulsate up and down, thus affording opportunityfor the sliding stop to slip beneath them. When the sliding stop isbeneath said valves they are prevented from closing and as a result, the

operating liquid rushes back and forth in return of slide 129 to nonactive position and permit the pump to resume its normal working. In thepreferred construction lever 128 acts against a block 129 yieldinglymounted in sliding stop 129. This prevents undesirable strain in theparts in case the lever 128 should operate at a time when the valves 111and 112 are down inthe path pressing rams, its function being tosupple-' ment the low pressure pump and intensify the pressure duringthe critical period of operation of the machine. Said high pressure pumpconsists of a body 131 containing three cylinders 132,133 and 134. inwhich the plungers 135 and 136 and 137 operate, guided by bushings 138.The number of cylinders is non essential and may be increased ordecreased according to the judgment of the designer. The greater themunber of cylinders and plungers the more rapid will be theintensification or boosting of the pressure which acts upon thev upperand lower rams. An increase in the number of pump cylinders woulddecrease the period required to produce the desired intensity and viceversa.

Each cylinder of the high pressure pump is provided with an inductionvalve 140 and an exhaust valve 141 connected bya passage 142 as bestshown in Figs. 18 and 23. A chamber 143, common to all of the cylinderslies beneath the induction valves and communicates with a passage 144through which the operating fluid passes from the accumulator and lowpressure pump. A chamber 145, also common to all of the high pressurepump cylinders forms the outlet from the pump and communicates throughthe passage 146 and pipe 147 with the supply chamber 148 in the valvebox or casing '52, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 5, 7, 17 and 1.8 andin the diagram Fig. 26.

The valve bow or casing.As previously mentioned, valve casing 52contains all the -main controlling valves of the machine,

that is, the valves which control the rams and the charger; and theoperating liquid is supplied to them from the said supplychamber 148.The said main controlling valves are: the induction valve 151 of theupper main. cylinder, the exhaust valve 152 of said upper main cylinder,the induction valve 170 of the lower main cylinder, the e haust va ve171 of said lower mam cylinder, the induction valves 53 and 54 of thedifferent ends of the charger-operating cylinder, and the exhaust valves55 and 56 of the different ends of said charger-operating cylinder.Valves 151 and 152 are operated by rock shaft 157 valves 170 and 171 areoperated by rock shaft 173; and valves 53, 54, 55 and 56 are operated byrock shaft 189, which shafts are shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and elsewhereand will be herein again referred to.

A safety valve 149 of ordinary construction is located in pipe 147 asbest indicated in Figs. 17 and 18 and insures against excessive pressurein the machine.

The mechanism for controlling the upper mm.The downward nuilfement ofthe upper ram is accomplished-by the following mechanism: The valvechamber 150 containing the induction valve 151 and exhaust valve 152(see Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 10) is connected to the u per main cylinder 10 bya pipe 153 throng which the operating liquid passes at accumulatorpressure upon the opening of the induction valve 151.

This valve is opened by themovement of.

the charger 32, the acting mechanism being a cam 154 fixed on the sideof said charger as best shown in Figs. 4 and 10. Said cam operates alever 155 pivoted on a bracket 156 bolted to the mold table 31, and isso placed as to operate the lever, to open the valve as the charger is'about to finish its rearward movement. The valvecontrolling "rock shaft157 previously mentioned, is rotatably mounted in lugs 158 east on thebottombf the valve casing 52 and has rigidly fastened thereon two arms158 and 159. Arm 158 is adapted to engage the stem of the inductionvalve 151 to open said valve. Arm 159 is adapted to operate the frame160 (see Figs 4 and 6) which engages the top of the stem of the exhaustvalve 152. When said frame is lowered it depresses said exhaust valveagainst the force of its spring and thereby opens it. The arrangement issuch that when rock shaft 157 is rotated in one direction it opensinduction valve 151 and closes exhaust valve 152 thereby causing theupper ram 59 to descend; and when said shaft is rotated in the returndirection said ram is permitted to ascend under the influence of itsretraction piston 68. Rock shaft 157 is operated in one direction (toopen valve 151) by an arm 161 which is rigidly secured to said shaft andis 'pivotally attached at its outer end to a claw 162 as best shown inFig. 10. This claw engages a pin 163- at the outer end of the abovementioned lever 155. Induction valve 151 is normally held closed andexhaust valve 152 open by means of a tension spring 165 which isattached at one end to anarm 164 rigidly fastened to said rock shaft andat

